Crime

Over the course of your life, the chances of being the victim of a crime are at least one in three, higher if you live in a large city, and higher still if you’re a woman. The criminal’s objective is to maximize gain and minimize risk, and he’ll usually pick the easiest target with the most to offer. Given these odds, it pays to take precautions by following some basic safety rules:

ATHENS, Ga. -- One person died Monday and another was in jail after a fire broke out, overnight, at an Athens motel, America's Best Inn, at 2715 Atlanta Highway, west of downtown Athens.

Motel guests awoke just before 1:00 a.m. Monday to the smell of smoke, the sight of flames shooting out of Room 211, the sounds of alarms and sirens.

And they soon learned that the fire killed the woman who was staying in room 211.

The woman was Anita Dantzer Watson, 34, mother of four, who grew up on a farm a few miles away. She was always known as Dantzer as she rode horses across the fields, attended church functions, enjoyed friends and school.

ATHENS, Ga. -- A 20-year-old man has been charged in a pedestrian's death in Athens Sunday night.

The accident happened shortly before 10 p.m. on the Athens Perimeter Highway near Oconee Street.

Police said the pedestrian, later identified as 55-year-old Kathy Maxey, stepped into the road and was struck by an Infiniti G35 driven by Edwin Gaona.

Maxey was pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old passenger in Gaona's car was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Gaona was arrested and charged with DUI and vehicular homicide.

ATHENS, Ga. -- Athens police officers found drugs, money and a gun while executing a search warrant at a house this week.

Investigators raided the Northview Drive home Feb. 17. Athens-Clarke County police spokesperson Hilda Sorrow said members of the Drug Task Force recovered Adderall, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, packaging materials, a digital scale, a handgun and holster, ammunition and cash from the house.

Two people were taken into custody. David Douglas Elliott, 24, was charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, substance possession, marijuana possession and selling marijuana.

Robert Howard Ansley, 28, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.